Follow
I try and make all my gifts during the course of the year and after each Christmas I tell myself I am not going to wait until the last minute. The next thing I know it is October and I am frantically knitting, quilting, crafting every night – taking a lot of the enjoyment out of it. This year I did get ahead of the game and want to stay that way. Yesterday I started my spread sheet of gifts, decided I would do it a little differently this year. Since I make all the gifts I attach a tag saying what it was made of and how to launder, but I have to admit a lot of times I forget. I also tend to forget what color and pattern I used for the gift – just making a list of the name and type of gift. This year my list consists of the pattern, color, material used, care instructions, name and photo.
I hardly ever make anything for myself, but last fall I really wanted to make myself a poncho. After the Christmas gift making I started a poncho for myself, finished knitting it in the spring AND just yesterday finally put it together. I am now ready for the fall weather – I Love It!
Poncho Pattern
Yarn: 100% merino wool (136 yards, 50g ball)
Amount: 10 (12, 14) balls
Needles: US 10.5
Gauge: 4 stitches = 1 inch; 16 stitches = 4 inches
Size: S (M, L)
Knitted Measurements: Width = 18″ (20″, 22″); Length = 42″ (16″, 52″)
Yarn is worked doubled throughout the poncho, this means you are knitting with 2 strands of yard.
With 10.5 needles and 2 strands of yarn, cast on 72 (80, 88) 
stitches and work in pattern stitch until the piece measure 42″ (46″, 52″). Bind off all stitches loosely and sew in ends.
Row 1: K1, P1 to end
Row 2: Purl
Finished piece with ends
Sewing in the ends
To finish the piece off, lay the piece on the floor or other flat surface, take side A B and line it up with D E. So A will match up with E and B will match up with D. Sew the seam up.
D E A
B
Matching up the sides
Sewing up the seam
Finished
The poncho is very warm and I instantly heat up when putting it on – great for the fall and early winter days! Love the photo taken by Stella from below – oh, so flattering!
I keep all the remnants of my skeins and looking at the bag it may be time to start another remnant blanket – but that will have to wait until all the Christmas gifts are done.
Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2011 
The poncho looks great on you. Two things to always remember …
a) Handmade gifts are the most meaningful to receive, and
b) You should always make at least 1 for yourself !
I tend to forget about making things for myself and I am not always sure what I make for others is appreciated or wanted, but I keep doing it anyway!